Negotiating a Reduction On Your Medical Bill

Here is a step by step guide on how to negotiate a reduction on your medical bill. With raising out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles, can you afford not to ask for a discount? This is a step-by-step script to ask for a reduction on your medical bill.

Things You Will Need

Itemized statement from billing department

Step 1

Request an itemized statement from the billing office.

Check for "kits" or "trays" in your itemized medical bill. Check them
against the individual charges for specific surgical instruments to
make sure that you are not double billed for the item.

Step 2

After looking over your itemized bill, call your doctor's office. Ask the person in the billing department "Are you authorized to give me a discount for this medical bill?"

Step 3

If the answer is no, ask "Can I speak to the person authorized to give me a discount on my medical bill?"

Step 4

Once you get someone who is authorized to give you a discount, ask "What kind of discount can you give me for this medical bill?"

Step 5

Then ask, "Can I get a bigger discount for paying with cash?" Only ask if you can truly afford to pay cash for the medical bill.

Step 6

Follow up with "Is there a discount for paying my medical bill in full or for prompt payment?"

Most billing representatives assume that you will be paying
installments on a medical bill. If you can afford to pay the entire
bill in full, ask for a discount for prompt payment.

Sound firm and in control. You can get up to a 40% discount just by asking for a reduction in your medical bill.

Don't settle for a 10% discount. Medical expenses are so inflated that 10% is just a small drop in the bucket.

When a friend of mine took her son in for a cut, she was presented with a $315 medical bill at the reception desk. When she asked, "are you sure it cost $315 for glue?" the receptionist went and talked to the doctor. When the receptionist came back, her medical was reduced to $100. Just the fact that my friend questioned her medical bill, she was able to get a 67% reduction.

Don't settle for a 10% discount. Medical expenses are so inflated that 10% is just a small drop in the bucket.